Anyone else love word games? I love playing Scrabble (aka Words with Friends), Upwords, Bananagrams, Mad Gab, Taboo, etc. Home Depot asked me to create a personalized version of their football toss. Since my linguistics is better than my aim with a football I decided to make it into a customized Boggle game, also known as Word Streak for you who play it as an app. This is a fun way to get an entire group involved. All you need is this outdoor boggle word game and paper and pencil for each player.
I decided to take the football toss concept but make it into a game that tests your intellect more than your arm. Both are great but I need a game I know I can win at. HA!
Supplies:
(4) 1” x 4” x 8’
2’ x 4’ piece of 1/2” plywood
(16) #10 x 1 1/4” screws
(12) #10 x 3/4” screws
(8) 1 1/4” Kreg pockethole screws
(8) 1” Kreg pockethole screws
2 1/2” Narrow Utility Hinges (2) pack)
Kreg Jig
drill
saw
sandpaper
Finishing supplies: stain, spray paint, etc.
Optional: Boggle stencil (I made mine with my Silhouette Cameo machine)
I find it easiest to cut out all my pieces and then sand them before I assemble. It makes it a lot easier to get the surface smooth for stain or paint this way.
Also make sure you pre-drill all your holes before you drill the screws in so the wood doesn’t split.
To make the box to hold the boggle cubes you will need a Kreg Jig. This drills perfect pocketholes to adhere the box to your frame.
Position your square frame where you want it on your plywood. Using 1” Kreg screws attach it to your plywood base.
Stain and finish your board game as you wish. I used Minwax Pre-stain Conditioner followed by Minwax Special Walnut. If you are going to store this outside make sure you top coat it with an outdoor protective finish.
4” x 4” pieces of wood for used for your boggle/word streak blocks. You will need 16 of them to play the game.
I used a 3” stencil, adhesive spray to hold the stencil in place, and spray paint to make all the letters.
The hardest part of the whole project is stenciling the blocks. I find if you use spray adhesive on the back on the stencil and press it in place there is less bleed through.
What words can you find? How about cat, cats, hat, bat, hats, bats, bath, baths. Those are easy words. What about heaven and actuate? I like big words and I cannot lie. Give yourself a 2-3 minute time limit and write down all the words you can. After the time is up compare lists with your opponents. Cross out any word that matches anyone else’s list. All 3-4 letter words are worth 1 points, 5 letter words are worth 2, 6 letters words are worth 3, 7 letter words are worth 5 and 8 or more letters is worth 11. Decide your strategy. Do you want to go for lots of small words or the big words for more points? Either way it is a lot of fun and can accommodate a large group.
If you are a hands-on learner check out Home Depot to sign up to take this class. It really is awesome to learn from professionals the first time around.
To see some of my friend’s personalized take on this project check out…
Confessions of a Serial Do It Yourself Blog
Disclosure: This project was sponsored by Home Depot. The custom, cool version of the football toss is my idea and was not influenced in anyway.
